ACADEMY: U7 talent identification session

On Wednesday evening the Carlisle United Academy hosted their first U7 development centre session in the Neil Centre here at Brunton Park.

Academy coach Ben Benson said: "The centre is made up of 12 local players who will receive four training sessions over the next couple of months.

"We use the U7 development centre as forerunner to the U8 programme which starts in September. Sessions like this allow us to plant the seeds with the players regarding our playing philosophy and attitude.

"Like any programme, this is a process and every time we see the players there will be a progression in the themes of the sessions. The first focus for us is always team work as we are trying to blend players from different teams into one group.

"Ultimately, at this age, it's all about fun and enjoyment, but we start drip feeding messages in that they will hopefully be able consolidate over the course of the other sessions.

"We are very deliberate with spreading the programme over a couple of months. The reasoning for this is to see which players are capable of retaining information and then acting upon it in the next session.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players and parents for attending the opening night. We are already looking forward to the next series of sessions."